• Introduction

  Rhonda Lynn Grant, has 15 years experience as an HR Professional with many Fortune 100 & 500 companies and also has experience working with not for profit organizations. Rhonda developed the Get Your Best Job Now formula for African American females under 40 to help them get the best job now, virtually overnight. With this information 73% of African American Women are more likely to get the job they want after they listen and implement this information!

• What's motivates me to help AA woman under 40
  • Lack of funding to afford coaching programs to assist in job search
  • Time management - placement of value on non-productive, non-income producing activities
  • Skills - many have out of touch with the changes in the job market due to time in position
  • Procrastination - most AA woman wait until they have been laid off or downsized before they start upgrading their skills or looking for opportunities in the marketplace. i.e. Rebecca example
  • Even if they feel they don’t need this information, our children need this information. Our children are not learning interviewing skills. This is evident when I go to college recruiting events and when college grads interview for positions. My nephew is 16 years old and I’ve shared with him the Get Your Best Job Now formula and every summer he is selected out of a pool of 100 students for internships and jobs.
• Challenges that face AA woman during the process of landing a job
  • Pride - Not utilizing resources & failing to network
  • Not dressing appropriately
  • Failure to do their research about the organization/industry
  • Confidence
  • Not selling/marketing themselves effectively
  • Failure to get out of their comfort zone and not being flexible because they’re focused on their current accomplishments, and the material possessions.
• Follow the Get Your Best Job Now Formula: The 10 Steps to take while on the job market:
  1. Determine your true expenses
     • Difference between expenses and lifestyle. This will help you determine the minimum salary you’re able to accept
  2. Most overlooked tip! - Check your FICO score
     • a) Many positions go unfilled because of this mistake. Certain positions require candidates to go through a credit check. Why? Companies, especially positions that require you to handle their money, want to evaluate how responsible you have been with your own personal money, which is reflected in your credit report.
  3. Research growing industries - where to go
     • Get to the growing industries before your competition.
     • Recovery.gov - see what industries the government is investing in i.e. green industry
     • Bureau of Labor Statistics
  4. Avoid the 7 most common mistakes on Your Resume

     Keep in mind, these are only some of the common mistakes I’ve noticed on resumes. Now would be a great time for the listeners to get their resume out. As I go through the 7 most common mistakes, ask yourself, are any of these mistakes, costing me an interview?

     • The resume is not reflective of the industry you’re interviewing for
       • i.e. you’re applying for a nutritionist position in a health & wellness company but you’ve been an accountant your entire career. Let employer know why you’re interested in this industry
     • Correct grammar, punctuation, spelling
     • No personal information
       • i.e. how many children, age, marriage status, etc
     • Appropriate email address
       • No hotmama@aol.com; you may need to create a professional email address for the purpose of your job search. For example: your firstname@gmail.com These types of emails are free! Your email can cost you from being contacted by a perspective employer.
     • No nicknames
     • No more than 2 pages
     • Not listing any extracurricular activities such as volunteer work that is relevant to the industry

     In looking at your resume, what do you need to improve on? You’re resume is the first impression a perspective employer has of you. What impression would you like to make in order to receive an interview?

  5. Network in the right places
     • Employers are moving away from costly ads and recruiting agencies. They are now focused on colleges - job fairs and job boards - which all alumni’s have access to. Why? Most college students don’t have the minimum experience required for the position. This is a great opportunity for you to stand out because finding a job is all about standing out from your competition.
     • Linked In (a professional networking site) - referrals are the preferred method of getting qualified applicants. I would strongly recommend getting an account and setting up a profile on Linked In.
     • CareerBuilder & Monster - although companies don’t post all available positions, they have a process called mining. This means they are doing a search from all resumes posted on the site. Once you’ve applied the tips previously mentioned, create a profile on monster & career builder and post your resume.
  6. Prepare for the Employer’s Call - The single best tip I can give any job seeker is this:

     If you get a call from an employer, this means you have met the minimum qualifications for the position. From this point, if you don’t get the job, it’s because you have done something to eliminate yourself or you did not separate yourself enough from your competition. Getting your best job now is not solely about your qualifications, that has been already pre-determined upon review of your resume. The question, the employer has now is will you fit the company culture and do you the personality traits that will be a fit for the company culture. This will be determined during the actual interviews.

     • Two Types of Interviews:
       • Phone Interview - Ensure that the time/day you are scheduled, you will be able to take the call in a quiet location - no kids in the background, on a land line - meaning no cell phones - think about it you finally get the call... , no distractions. Always have your calendar available to schedule the ideal day & time. i.e. Recent interview with candidate who put me on hold.
       • In person Interview - Avoid these top 3 common mistakes
         Everything I’m about to say is critical. Many people have not received a job and they never learn why. So, I’m breaking all the rules to share with you how to Get Your Best Job Now! Just follow my formula & don’t take it personal, remember I’ve seen countless people in the past 15 years not receive a position because of these 3 common mistakes.
         • Dress appropriately - no skirts above the knee; pantyhose, closed toe shoes - this means no sandals, even in the summer!; no cleavage - ensure your blouse covers from the side and from above; limit your jewelry to 1 ring per hand, post or small hoop earrings, & no more than 1 bracelet per hand.
         • Grooming standards - if you are a smoker do not go into an interview after you’ve just smoked; trust me perfume doesn’t hide it. Speaking of perfume, none is better, it may smell good to you but not to the interviewer, believe me this can be a major turnoff and the interviewer doesn’t want to remember your scent in their office upon your departure. Hair - tone down the dramatic hairstyles - what I mean is if you’re wearing extensions keep the colors as close to your natural color. If you’re wearing braids or weaves as I often do, make sure it’s neat and professional. Makeup -just remember these three words - less is more!
         • Pre-interview checklist - while waiting to start your interview remember:
           • turn off your cell phone;
           • get rid of any gum or mints - remember you’re selling yourself;
           • check your teeth to ensure your previous meal is not present
           • have your resume ready & accessible to provide upon request;
           • stay relaxed, but remain confident
           • If possible, interact with the receptionist - ask questions about the company - you would be surprised at how influence the receptionist in your success!
     • The top 5 Things to do during the interview
       • Use the bullet points on your resume as talking points
         • Focus your conversation on what you can do for the company. In order to get your best job now, active listening is key in this step. Avoid making the mistake of over talking. Answer the questions as friendly and directly as you can. Remember once again these 3 words, less is more!
       • Know how to answer the most common questions that prevent candidates from Getting Their Best Job Now:
         • If asked the question, where do you see yourself in 5 years? Do not state things such as owning my own business. Even if this is your plan, do not disclose it. Say something like, I see myself being at the top of my field and from my research this is a growing industry and organization, so I know I will be able to make significant contributions to achieve this goal.
         • If asked, why do you want to work for this company? Do not say, because I need a job. This makes you seem desperate and the interviewer will not get the sense that you have connection or loyalty to their company.
       • Watch your non-verbals
         • i. Big Tip! Sometimes it’s not what you say, it’s what you don’t say that counts. Listeners, watch non-verbals, such as maintaining eye contact with the interviewer, smiling, too much talking with your hands, and neck rolling
       • Ask questions
         • Contrary to popular advice, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Just as the employer is interviewing you to see if this is a fit for them, you should be interviewing them to see if this is the right place for you. i.e. benefits, personal time off, what is the company culture around work life balance. Getting Your Best Job Now is not just about the position or the money, it’s about the complete package!
       • Know how to answer salary expectation questions
         • i. Rule of thumb - never give an exact number - you may end up low balling yourself. So, just state what your previous salary was and state that you’re flexible. Here is a tip most recruiters don’t want you to know: If the interviewer is like me that will press for an answer; ask what is the salary range for this position?
     • 4 Top Secrets After the interview to Get Your Best Job Now:
       • Collect business cards from all interviewers
       • Send thank you notes
         • Within 24 hours of the interview. This is the second biggest tip I can give. Contrary to popular advice, it is acceptable to send a thank you note via email. In fact to guarantee receipt, it is better to send by email and it’s free & makes a huge difference. Many candidates overlook this simple, yet powerful step!
       • You haven’t heard anything after 5 days should you call to find out the status?
         • Yes. If you have waited the allotted time that the employer stated you would hear back from them, it is absolutely okay to follow with ONE phone call and then wait for a response
       • What else should you do while waiting for next steps?
         • Repeat the Get Your Best Job Now networking formula!
     • Receiving The Offer
       • Get the offer in writing
         • Most employers will send via email or in hard copy format.
         • Review for offer letter for accuracy. Make sure all the agreed upon information is listed in the letter. This is a legal document, so once you sign you are agreeing to those terms. i.e. You negotiated 3 weeks vacation, in the letter it states 2 weeks. There is a change of management and you are requesting the original vacation time. HR will go back to the offer letter and you most likely will only receive the 2 weeks you signed for in your offer letter.
       • Start date
         • Once you have agreed to the start date, ensure all of you’re your personal business has been taken care of. You don’t want to Get Your Best Job Now only to create a negative impression within your first 90 days, which is usually the probationary period, by constantly taking time off for personal reasons.
     • Reviewing if you have found Your Best Job Now
       • Probationary Period - Though they vary in length, my standard is 90 days.
       • During the first 90 days, just as the employer has a probationary period, you also should be evaluating if you got what you were sold. Meaning, you really don’t know if this truly is Your Best Job Now until you actually start and have gone through a minimum of 90 days. If you find this a great fit, Congratulations! If not, at least this time you will be getting paid from your current employer while repeating the Get Your Best Job Now formula. Word of caution, review your company policy and procedures around utilizing company property for personal use.

Conclusion:
Fred, I can confidently say 73% of African American Women are more likely to get the job they want after they listen and implement this information! The reason I can say this is because I have figured out getting your best job now is a result of eliminating the accumulation of small errors in each stage of the hiring and job seeking process. Listeners, if you follow my 11 step formula and visit GetYourBestJobNow.com/blog for the latest tips and information, you will eventually be one of the 73%!

Financial Battle Plan

• MISTAKE # 1 - PAYING TOO MUCH TAX
  • Why are people making this mistake?
    • Distracted by the performance in their accounts, forgetting about tax
    • It’s not what you earn - it’s what you keep
    • A dollar saved is a dollar earned - no extra risk to get it
    • Some good decisions today won’t provide benefit for a few years
    • Lifetime tax bill is what is important
    • People just don’t know what they can do?
  • What ways can someone reduce their tax bill?
    • Flow-through shares
    • Interest income vs. dividends and cap gains
    • Interest income outside RRSP and dividends inside
    • Use a systematic withdrawal strategy
    • Do tax loss selling
    • Carry back tax losses 3 years, forward forever
    • Tax-Free Savings accounts
    • Make their mortgage tax deductible
  • What are some things that people should avoid with tax-planning?
    • Putting too much into RRSP, optimize rather than maximize
    • Waiting too long to convert their accounts to RRIF
    • Waiting too long to draw CPP?
• MISTAKE # 2 - IGNORING INFLATION
  • What is the problem with inflation?
    • Erodes buying power, give stamp example, last car, first house
    • It is a good thing for borrowers
    • Every indication inflation will be extreme
  • Why do people often ignore it?
    • Government is under-reporting inflation
    • CPI numbers are bogus
  • What should you do to protect yourself from inflation?
    • Real return bonds
    • Commodities
    • Gold and silver
• MISTAKE# 3 - BELIEVING THE GOVERNMENT WILL RESCUE YOU
  • Doesn’t the government give us benefits like CPP and Old Age Security?
    • Extremely underfunded
    • Politicians won’t eliminate it but real value of payments will be low
    • If you have wealth, the government is interested in it
  • What does this mean for people who will retire?
    • Take charge of your own financial future, get involved
• MISTAKE # 4 - NOT UNDERSTANDING THE REAL RISKS THEY FACE
  • What risks should we pay attention to?
    • Market risk
    • Liquidity risk
    • Inflation risk
    • Interest rate risk
    • Monetary risk
  • What can we do about market risk?
    • Guaranteed investments
    • Diversify geographically
    • Diversify by management style
    • Diversify by money manger
    • Diversify by asset class
  • What can we do about liquidity risk?
    • Have 1.5 years of cash needs on hand today
    • Avoid buying DSC funds
    • Avoid locking in to GICs
    • Own investments that will provide cash flow
  • What can we do about Interest rate risk?
    • Avoid long bonds
    • Buy real return bonds
  • What can we do about monetary risk?
    • Diversify geographically
    • Buy monetary assets like gold and silver
  • 1. What is a good mix of assets in financial uncertainty like today?
    • Depends on age, cash flow needs , goals etc.
    • 5-10% Real return bonds
    • 25% Cash or cash equivalents (depending on cash flow needs)
    • 20% Gold and silver
    • 50% Equities
• MISTAKE # 5 - BELIEVING LIFE INSURANCE IS A GOOD INVESTMENT
  • Isn’t life insurance a good investment?
    • Depends how you define investment?
    • Only 3 reasons to have insurance
      1. Income replacement
      2. Estate preservation
      3. Business buy/sell
    • Only if you NEED insurance
  • How can someone tell if they need insurance?
    • Do a ‘needs analysis’: ask - do you have needed income that will die with you or are you self insured?
    • Do you have a significant goal to maximize your estate? And have an estate tax problem?
    • Ask this question of a fee-only financial planner, never ask an insurance agent
    • Never ask the barber if you need a haircut
  • Assuming that I need insurance, what type should I buy and where should I buy it?
    • There are three types of life insurance
      1. Term
      2. UL
      3. Whole Life
      4. Determine exactly what you need, then call an agent
  • What should I be careful about when dealing with insurance?
    • Insurance is never an investment
    • Never insure your kids
    • Buy term and invest the difference
    • Insurance for cash-flow strategy is bogus
  • Are there any strategies for insurance that do make sense?
    • Insured annuity strategy
• MISTAKE # 6 - BELIEVING YOUR HOUSE IS AN INVESTMENT
  • Why isn’t your house an investment?
    • You can’t eat the door handles
    • You need to live somewhere
  • Can’t someone have a plan to downsize and spend the difference in retirement?
    • Sounds great nobody wants to do it
  • What about reverse mortgages?
    • They are a last resort
• MISTAKE # 7 - HAVING TOO MUCH BAD DEBT AND NOT ENOUGH GOOD DEBT
  • Isn’t all debt bad?
    • What is good debt , what is bad debt
  • Is borrowing money to invest smart to do?
    • Can be excellent
    • Do a simple leverage strategy
    • Borrowing magnifies gains AND losses
    • Only invest in guaranteed investments
    • Only do so with a trusted adviser
  • Can I convert bad debt to good debt?
    • Yes, make your mortgage tax deductible
• MISTAKE # 8 - BELIEVING THAT RRSPs ARE THE SOLUTION
  • How can RRSPs be bad?
  • Don’t we get a tax deduction if we contribute to RRSPs?
  • How do you know if you have too much in RRSPs?
  • What can we do as an alternative?
• MISTAKE # 9 - LETTING YOUR ADVISER DRIVE THE BUS
  • Why shouldn’t your adviser be in charge isn’t he the expert?
  • What’s the difference between a financial planner and an investment adviser?
  • Do I need and investment adviser?
  • Do I need a financial planner?
  • Are designations important?
  • Is experience important?
  • How do I find and hire qualified advisers?
  • How can I tell if my adviser is doing a good job for me?
  • What type of investment advisers and financial planner should I avoid?
  • Is there a way to reduce the costs associated with investing and advisers?
• MISTAKE # 10 - IGNORING SOME TYPES OF INVESTMENTS THAT SHOULDN’T BE IGNORED
  • Why do some investments get ignored?
  • What investments get ignored and why should they be considered?
  • Are mutual funds bad?
• MISTAKE # 11 - FORGETTING TO PLAN YOUR ESTATE
  • Why is estate planning important?
    • Estate taxes and fees
    • Problems for your family
  • What are the bare necessities of an estate plan?
    • Will
    • POA
    • PD